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STEPHENVILLE (April 6, 2015) — Finding a Tarleton State University shuttle has become easier this spring.
Tarleton’s shuttle service has implemented a new tracking service to provide passengers with real-time information regarding shuttle location and estimated arrival times using a free mobile app that delivers information via smart phones, iPads or Internet-connected computers.
The shuttle service, provided by Central Texas Rural Transit District’s City and Rural Rides (CARR), recently deployed the GPS-enabled Ride Systems tracking service on all three shuttles serving Tarleton’s main campus in Stephenville. The Ride Systems tracking service for transit riders can now accurately predict when a shuttle will arrive at a specific stop.
Tarleton’s University Police Department and Parking Office says the shuttle tracking system, designed by Ride Systems, should help decrease time spent waiting outside for shuttles and allows riders to plan to their routes more effectively.
“In an ongoing effort to meet the needs of our student body, faculty and staff, and to make transportation, in and around Tarleton State University, more accessible, we agreed this was the optimal solution for commuters to campus,” said Director of University Police and Parking Matt Welch. “This is a great step forward because this helps strengthen our overall goal of safety and service around the campus and provides for a more user-friendly method when commuting to Tarleton from off-campus housing.”
Passengers on CARR’s Tarleton Shuttle Service may visit www.TarletonStateUniversityShuttle.com to view the route map and location of the three shuttles in real-time, and see approximate arrival times at stops along the three routes that serve the off-campus apartment complexes including Mustang Ranch, The Grove and Oak Tree Apartments, as well as the remote parking lot adjacent to Tarleton’s softball complex.
Each route is color-coded: Purple (Mustang Ranch), Red (The Grove and Oak Tree), and Green (remote parking). Users of the Ride Systems tracking service may view one or all three routes simultaneously to determine exact location of the shuttle as it travels the routes and an estimated arrival time in minutes. The Ride Systems app is also equipped to display important announcements related to Tarleton’s Shuttle Service.
The shuttles have been equipped with GPS tracking which sends out its location every five seconds to provide real-time information to passengers. When viewing the route map on a mobile device or web browser, shuttle locations are depicted as a color-coded dot and may appear with an arrow to show the shuttle’s direction of travel or a square “stop” icon that denotes the shuttle has stopped for loading and unloading of passengers.
To download the free Tarleton Shuttle Service tracking app, visit the Google Play store or iTunes store and search “Ride Systems.” The app is compatible on Android, iPhone and Windows phones.
Once the mobile app is downloaded to a device, select “Tarleton State University” to begin tracking the Tarleton Shuttle Service.
This is retarded. Just provide parking. It ain’t rocket science. Tarleton has two goals: 1) more tuition, 2) more parking tickets.